Article dispensing apparatus with selectively releasable hinged shelves

ABSTRACT

An article-dispensing apparatus having a plurality of vertically aligned shelves, each of which is held in a horizontal articlesupporting position by a latch mechanism and then released in sequence to a vertical nonsupporting position, starting from the lowermost shelf, to dispense the articles, one at a time. A cyclically operable release mechanism includes a vertical bar having a plurality of horizontal arms, one for operating the latch mechanism of each shelf. The release mechanism moves automatically from one position whereat it releases one shelf to another position for releasing a higher shelf, in response to the release of the said one shelf.

United StatesPatent' A r l 13,556,343

[72] Inventor Warren J. Ungerman [56] References Cited [21] A UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,137,411 6/1964 Bailey 221/90 igf 1223 3??? 3,312,321 4/1967 Gretzky. 221/9ox 3,355,065 11/1967 Moe 221/90 [73] Assignee Captain International Industries, Ltd.

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Primary Examiner-Stanley H. Tollberg a Attorney-Larson, Taylor and Hinds 1 ABSTRACT: An article-dispensing apparatus having a plurality of vertically aligned shelves, each of which is held in a horizontal article-supporting position by a latch mechanism and then released in sequence to a vertical nonsupporting position, starting from the lowermost shelf,'to dispense the articles, one at a time. A cyclically operable release mechanism [54] ARTICLE DISPENSING APPARATUS WITH SELECTIVELY RELEASABLE HINGED SHELVES 24 Claims 7 Drawing Figs includes a vertical bar having a plurality of horizontal arms, [52] US. CL... 221/90 one for operating the latch mechanism of each shelf. The [51] Int.Cl G07f 11/06 release mechanism moves automatically from one position [50] Field of Search 221/90, 89, whereat it releases one shelf to another position for releasing a (inquired) higher shelf, in response to the release of the said one shelf.

' PATENTED JAN 1 9m SHEET 1 OF 2 2| l7 4 FIG 2 WARREN J. UNGERMAN I x i ATTORNEYS apparatus.

: between adjacent.

I type described having" a p t sns' ments connected to 1? themselves to selectiwhich shel m so ljmsan iip s r t i n' 'r l features-it" :trolmeansy hi w ARTICLEbrsraxsmosrrxax ruswith S L CT vao Eaa AB Eamoral) SHELVES 'ty, ofvertlcally aligned article supportwas; on 11 is shovvnin the Regan et al. l J.S..Pat.

While these the shelf releas had certain" evlous machmeshave operated satisfactorily,

ha sins in these-previous*rnachines have additiomtliey mitting little o cv sef e H necessarily advanced tda'po on operate the-next highest adjacent shelf, However, on occasions tfor example whenone -desirestodispense nai-tielelarger thanltheispace tsdsir'ableto' utilize only every Accordingtoa feature of this preferred embodiment, that actuatingiar'm which happens to be in an operative position,

and hence also, the weight of the vertical bar actually rests on a rest surface of anelemen t connected to the sheltZThis eleit'nent may or may not be the latch means itself. Consequently.

.afte'r'the latch means has been rendered inoperable, and the shelf has fallen downwardly, the said rest element has also fal-.

lenldownwardlyso that the vertical bar wil l drop until an actuatingarm located higher up on the vertical bar will engage therest surface of the nexthighest active shelf, that is, the next nfsequehce starting from the bottom shelf, to release thesupported articles one am time.{An exam- I ple of such a ma other shelf ofrever y hirdlshelf l However, in this case it would be necessary'ffor .thegrele asemechmisnrta adiance; darin each cycle, lto a shaman is,=the next'highestshelf whichhappens to be in an rt es p'p rt ns r' sit n). wh' the next highest adjacentshelf;

Thus, there'exi stsiai ed fo'r-a 'ofthe to: in a andflexible co rol, fl.v. h control meanssu that thasjainur'nberof diffe r e'ntoperating perating ,each shelf, and by utilizing elefor-operating shelves.v

with these a P ovide s'st sm x m l fi d cbnr V M uite flexiblje in thagafter releasingJa shelf it automaticaliy "moves tog-a position to operate the next highest f active". shelf, that is, the next highest shelf which happens to be in an article supporting position whether or not it is the next highest adjacent shelf. v I

According to a preferred embodiment ofthe present invention there is provided an articledispensing apparatuscomprishe r) no at sh lf i a o r simplified flexibpe I mPl0yed to cause the .,1operate1the next' highest activ highest shelf which happens to be-in the horizontal articlesupporting position, and this may or may not be the next higher adjacent shelf. Indeed, any number of shelves between the last operated shelf and thesaid next active horizontal shelf may be in the vertical nonsupporting position; Consequently, in pracmen is possible to employ 'any possible combination offthe total number of shelves and still have the control means auto-. matically move ,to the next highestfhorizontal' shelf during each cycle of operation of the'control rneans (that is. during each oscillation ofthe said vertical bar about its axis). "According to another feature of the present invention, a

deflector means'islocated immediately fabove each shelf. One

portion ofthe deflector means covers the rearof the shelf and thus cov'ersthe shelf when it is in a vertical position. Another portioniof the de flector means coverstlie area in which its associated actuating arm 'moves during. the said oscillating movement of the bar. One purpose of these deflectors is to assure that as'the articles fall downwardly they do not become snagged on actuating arms or on lower shelves which are already in the yertical'nonsupporting' position. In addition, the said secondportion ofthe'deflector prevents the actuating arms above that actuating arm in the operative position from I strikirig'the article on its shelf when the bar is oscillated.

--' di,spensin'g apparatusioftlie type described, a" more.simplitied ieved by constructing-.thel shelf Q '1 Any convenient means such as a solenoid or the like may be t said oscillating movement of the vertically extendingbar.

Thus, it is an object of this invention to'provide a new and improveddispensing apparatus."

lt' is "another object of this invention. to provide, in a dispensing apparatus of the type described,a simplified and flexible shelfcontrol means.

.= ltis still another object of this invention to provide, in a dispensingapparatus of the type described, a cyclically operable control means'having a 'plurality'of operating positions;

'o'ne'for each shelf, and which, afterreleasing a given shelf frornthe horizontal position to'the vertical position, automatically movesto a position to rele'asethe next'highest shelf which happens'to be in a horizontal position whether or not ing a plurality of verticallyaligned 'shelves, each shelf being movable about anaxis at'the rearot each shelf between a horizontal article supporting positionand a vertical nonsupporting position. Each shelf includes a laterally movable latch means which is capable of holdingits respective shelf in the horizontal position until rendered inoperable by the control means, at which time the shelf moves (for example it may be designed to simply fall undertheforce of gravitytto the vertical nonsupporting position. in this preferred embodiment, the

p control means comprises an elongated bar extending vertically alongside all the shelves; said bar including a plurality of actuating arms, one am being provided for each shelf. The verti- I cal bar is adapted to be oscillated about its axis, thereby swing ing the said actuating arms .in a generally horizontal plane. However, theanns are so arranged on the bar. that only one of the arms will be in an operative position to operate its respective latch means. This will thus cause lateral movement of its respective latch means thereby rendering the same inoperable and permitting the shelf associated therewith to fall to its vertical nonsupporting position. i

' that'she'lf is the next highestadjacent shelf. "Another-object of this invention is to provide, in a dispensing'apparatus of the type described, a simplified control means comprising a vertically extending bar having a plu-.

rality of actuating arms located thereon, said arms being spaced from each other bya distance between the shelves.

Another object of this invention is 'to provide deflector means for a dispensing apparatus of the type described.

Other objects and the attendant advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description 'to follow together with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS There follows a detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention together with the accompanying drawings. However, it is to be understood that this description and the accompanying drawings are provided only for purposes of illustration and that the invention is capable of numerous modifications and variations apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of an article dispensing apparatus constructed in accordance with the features of the present invention. I

FIG. 2 is an elevational view taken from the one side of FIG. I but with the side cover plate removed.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a portion of the apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIGS. 4A through 4D are schematic views taken in the same direction as FIG. 2 and showing various stages in the operation of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings wherein like numerals are employed to indicate like parts throughout. and referring in particular to FIGS. 1 through 3, there is shown a dispensing apparatus I having a rear partition 11, a main side partition 12 and an opposite side partition 12A. Mounted on the ap paratus are a plurality of shelves 13A, 13B and 13C. While only three shelves are shown in FIGS. 1 through 3, it will be understood that any number of shelves could be provided below shelf 13C. These shelves are of a length less than the distance between partitions 12 and 12A.

In the following description of the preferred embodiment, the terms tight" and left will be used for convenience and refer to the location of the elements as shown in FIGS. 1 and Further, a prime is employed to show the moved position of an element.

Each shelf includes a right side flange 14 and a left side flange 15. A support rod 16 extends along the rear partition 1 1 with its ends 17 and I8 protruding through side partitions 12 and 12A respectively. The rear of each shelf 13 is mounted on this rod 16 so that each shelf is mounted for rotational movement from a horizontal position to a vertical position. Each rod includes a spring 20 acting between an enlarged portion 19 on the support rod and the inside of flange 14 thereby urging the shelf 13 to the right to an extent limited by a spacing element 21 located on the rod 16. Each shelf also includes a latching means comprising a latch pin 22 rigidly connected at one end 23 to the bottom of its respective shelf 13 at a substantial distance along the shelf forward of the pivotal connection. This rod 22 passes through the side flange l4 and its other end 24 is adapted to pass through an aperture 25 in the partition 12. Thus, it will be seen that when the shelf 13 is urged to the right by spring 20 the rod 22 enters the opening 25 and thereby holds the shelf in the horizontal position. If the shelf is now urged to the left by a sufficient amount, the end 24 will pass to the left side of opening 25 and the shelf 13 will swing downwardly around rod 16. A spacing element in the form of spring 26 is provided at the left side of rod 16 to limit the leftward movement of the shelf 13 after the shelf has moved a sufficient amount to remove the end 24 of rod 22 from the opening 25.

To assure smooth downward movement of each article as it passes the lower shelves which have already been placed in the vertical condition, there is provided a deflector arrangement including a rear deflector 30 and a side deflector 31. In the illustrated embodiment, these two deflectors are formed integrally with each other and with an upper plate 32, the latter of which is welded or otherwise connected directly to rear partition 1 1.

To provide the selective lateral movement of the shelves 13 there is provided a control means comprising a vertical control bar extending vertically alongside all of the shelves. This bar includes a plurality of rearwardly extending arms 41. One arm is provided for each shelf. Thus, in FIGS. 1 through 3, three pins are illustrated, namely 41A, 41B and 41C. These are best illustrated in FIG. 2.

This bar includes elements 44 through (which will be explained in greater detail below) for oscillating this bar through a slight angle. This angle is illustrated in FIG. 3 between the two arms 41B and 41C and the phantom line representations of the moved positions of the arms, namely 41B and 41C. The effect of the movement of the arm 41C is to move the shelf 13C to the left as illustrated by the phantom line side flanges l4 and 15. This distance is sufficient for the end 24 of rod 22 to pass to the right-hand side of partition 12. Consequently, the rod 22 is no longer held in the horizontal position by aperture 25, and the shelf 13C swings downwardly about rod 16 to the vertical position as illustrated by arrow X in FIG. 3, and moved position 13C in FIG. 1.

A feature of the invention is the spacing between the arms 41. Assuming that the shelf 13C is in fact the lowermost shelf, then at the starting position the arm 41C will rest on the rod 22. Concurrently, the rod 418 will be spaced a distance H (FIG. 2) above its corresponding rod 22 on shelf 138. Similarly, the rod 41A will be spaced a distance 2H above its rod 22 on shelf 13A. Stating this relationship more generally, for any number of shelves, when the lowermost shelf rests on its pin 22, the second from the lowest shelf will be spaced a distance H above its pin 22 and all higher arms will be spaced 'a distance (rt-l H above their respective pins 22 wherein n" is an integer representing the number of that shelf counting up from the bottom shelf, for which n=l.

An actuating arm is considered to be in its operative" position when it rests on its respective pin 22. When in this operative position, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 for arm 41C, swinging movement of the rod 40 will swing the arm 41C against flange 14 of the shelf 13C thereby moving this shelf to the left as indicated at 14' and 15 in FIG. 3 so that the shelf will fall in the manner described above, thereby releasing the article mounted on that shelf to be dispensed through an opening located below the shelves.

As the arm 41C swings to the left, all higher pins swing above their respective shelves so that they do not urge their respective shelves to the left. After the shelf 13C has fallen to the vertical position, and after the rod 40 has been turned back to its original position, the rod 40 will drop downwardly until the arm 41B engages its respective rod 22 in preparation for the next actuation (oscillation) of rod 40. Since the arm 41A was located a distance 2H above its pin 22, it will now move down to a distance H, still above the level of its shelf 13A. After actuation of the bar 40 to operate shelf 138, the rod 40 will fall downwardly once again until arm 41A engages its respective rod 22 in preparation for operation of shelf 13A. After shelf 13A is in fact operated by oscillation of bar 40, the bar will fall downwardly until its horizontal bent portion 44 engages a fixed stop member 51.

It is important to note that the downward movement of the bar 40 will continue until one of its arms 41 engages its respective pin 22. However, this need not be the next highest shelf to that which was just actuated. For example, assume that it is desired to dispense an article which requires a space greater than that provided between two adjacent shelves but less than that provided between three adjacent shelves. Such articles could be dispensed by initially employing only every other shelf, leaving the intermediate shelves in the vertical position. Assume that such an article is placed on the shelf 13C and that shelf 13B is initially placed in the vertical condition. Then, after movement of arm 41C to lower the shelf 13C, the rod 40 will start its downward movement. However, the pin 22 of the shelf 13B is no longer in the path of arm 418 so that arm 41 8 will continue to move downwardly. This downward movement will continue to move downwardly. This downward movement will continue until the arm 41A engages and rests upon it respective pin 22 of the shelf 13A. Thus, the control means, after lowering a shelf, moves automatically to the next shelf which happened to be in the horizontal article-supporting position whether or not that is the next adjacent shelf.

Although it is believed that the operation of the invention is clear from the foregoing description of the preferred embodiment, nonetheless the operation of the invention will be described below with reference to schematic FIGS. 4A through 4D. In this illustration shelf ISD is provided in addition to shelves 13A through 13C. Further, referring to FIG. 4A, in the initial position only shelves 13A, 13C and 13D will be utilized to support articles. This might be the case where an extra tall article is placed on the shelf BC. In these FIGS., the partition 12 is not shown but the apertures 25 are indicated diagrammatically by circles.

rested uponits respective pin 22. Between FIGS. 48 and 4C the bar is once again oscillated. Arm 4lC' thereby moves shelf 13D to the left, causing the same to drop to-the position shown in FIG. 4C. The bar40 then drops until the next highest shelf which happens to be in a horizontal position, namely theshelf -l3A, is engaged by its respective arm 41A. Sincethe shelf 13B wasin'a vertical position before the actuation of shelf 13C, then its pin 22 was alreadyout of the path of arm 4lB sothat arm 41B continues its downward movement unobstructed until the pin 41A engages its respectivepin 22.-Between FIGS. 4C and 4Dthe: bar is once again oscillatedthereby causing the shelf 13A torbe lowered and permitting the bar 40 to fall until its upper bent'portion 44 engages the fixed stop 51.

It can be seenthat articles falling-from the upper shelves might well become snaggcdin thes'helves already placedin the vertical position or in the latch means 'for the lower shelves. The deflectors 30 and 3t assure the smooth downward movement of the articles and prevent the-possibilityofsnagging'. w f t R= f FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate the mechanismfor causing the said oscillating movement of the bar 40. The bar :40 includes-a horizontally bent portion 4.4 and an upper vertical'portion 45,

which extends through the bottom'of a U-shaped clamp.46

actuating arm for each shelf, and each shelf including a rest level which is the locus of the said rest surface when that. shelf is in the horizontal position, the said arms beingspaced vertically from each other such that when the arm of the lowermost shelf is at its rest level. the arm of the second lowest shelf is spaced a distance H above its respective rest level, and all higher arms are spaced a distance (-n-l H above their respective reference levels wherein n is an integer representing the number of the shelf, counting up from the lowermost shelf, for which n=l; I 4. A dispensing'apparatus according to latch means of each shelf is-horizontally'rnovable between an 48 and partition 50causes return movement of the elements art without departing from thespirit and scopeof the invention as defined in the claims.

lclaim:

I. An article-dispensing apparatus comprising; a plurality of vertically aligned shelves, each shelf being mounted for move ment between a horizontal supporting position and a vertical nonsupporting position, each shelf including a latch means for having a plurality of operative positions including' one operative position for each shelf whereat'the' control means 5 operates the' latch means of that shelf to cause that shelfto move from the horizontal position to the vertical position, said control means being movable from a first operative position whereat it operates the latch means of a first shelf, to a second operative position spaced vertically from the first operative position whereat'it operates the latch means of a shelf higher than the first shelf, said movement of the control means being by gravity and in response to the operation of the latch means of the first shelf and tomovement of the first shelf from its horizontal position to its vertical position.

2. An article-dispensing apparatus according to claim 1 wherein each shelf includes a rest surface-connected thereto for supporting the control means when the control means is in position to operate that shelf, said restsurface being movable with the shelf between the horizontal position and the vertical position, such that the rest surface is in position to support the holding that shelf in the horizontal position; a control means control means only when the shelf is. in a horizontal position,

3. A dispensing-apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said 7 control means comprises an elongated bar having a main portion extending vertically alongside all shelves and including an active position whereat it holds its shelf in ahorizontal position and an inactive position whereat it permits itsshelf to moveto its vertical position,and including actuating means for moving'the arms in a horizontal plane to cause said preventing articles falling from'a givenshelf from hitting the arms associated with lower shelves and also for preventing the arms from engaging articles on their respective shelves during said; horizontal movement of the arms. a y

= 7.-An article'dispensing apparatus according to claim 6 including further-deflector means locatedv between each-shelf for preventing articles falling from a given shelf from hitting lower shelves in a vertical position.

8. An article-dispensing apparatus according to clairn4 including a vertical partition along the side of the shelves, wherein each shelf is laterally movable in a horizontal plane towards and away from said vertical bar,i and wherein each latch means comprises a latch pin rigidly attached to its respective shelf and extending laterally from one side of its shelftowards the said partition, means in the partition for receivingthe ends of the latch pins remote from the shelf for holding the shelf in a horizontal position, and spring means for urging thelshelf towards the said partition. 9. An article-dispensing apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the upper surface of the latch pin comprises the said rest surface and wherein the shelf includes a vertical side flange facing the bar, and wherein the arm in the operative position engages the side flange to move the shelf laterally and thereby move the latchpin away from itsmeans in-the partition, thereby permitting the shelf to fall to its vertical position.

10 An article-dispensing apparatus according to clairri 9 wherein the upper end of said bar is offset from the main portion thereof, and including a horizontally movable clamp engaging said offset portion to move the same horizontally to oscillate the said bar in a horizontal plane about the axis of the main portion of the bar.

11. An article-dispensing apparatus according to claim 10 including a spring means connected to the clamp for normally urging the said clamp towards the partition and a solenoid switch connected to the clamp for selectively moving the clamp away from the partition to cause said oscillating movement of the bar.

12. An article-dispensing apparatus comprising: a plurality of vertically aligned'shelves, each shelf movable between a horizontal article-supporting position and a vertical nonsupporting position, a control means including a vertically extending bar having formed thereon a plurality of actuating arms, one arm associated with each shelf, each said arm positioned to act upon its associated shelf to cause that shelf to move from the horizontal position to the vertical position, each shelf including a reference level at which its respective actuating arm acts to cause said movement of that shelf, wherein when'the actuating arm. associated with the lowermost shelf is located at the reference level of that shelf, the actuating arm associated with the next higher shelf is spaced a claim 3 wherein the distance H above the reference level of that shelf, and all higher actuating arms are located a distance (n-l) H above their respective reference levels wherein n is an integer representing the number of the shelf, counting up, in sequence, starting from the said lowermost shelf for which n=l, wherein, when the shelves are in the horizontal position the said reference levels form rest surfaces for the said bar and arms of the control means, such that the weight of the bar and arms rests on whichever reference surface is at the moment receiving its respective arm.

13. An article-dispensing apparatus according to claim ll2 wherein each reference surface is formed on a latch pin attached to and protruding laterally from one side of its shelf, and including means for engaging each pin to hold the shelf in the horizontal position.

14. An article-dispensing apparatus according to claim 13 including actuating means for oscillating the bar about its axis thereby moving the arms in a horizontal plane, such that the arm in the operative position disengages its latch means to permit that shelf to move to the vertical position, and such that the bar then moves downwardly until the next highest shelf in the horizontal position receives its respective arm to support the weight of the bar and arms.

15. An article-dispensing apparatus according to claim 14 wherein each shelf is movable laterally towards and away from the bar, and each latch pin is rigidly attached to its respective shelf, and including spring means urging each shelf towards the bar, and a side flange on each shelf facing the bar, whereby when the bar is oscillated, the arm engages the side flange and urges the shelf and the latch pin away from the bar to release the latch pin and permit said movement of the shelf to its vertical position.

-16. An article-dispensing apparatus according to claim 15 wherein the upper end of said bar is offset 15 the main portion thereof, and including a horizontally movable clamp engaging said offset portion to move the same horizontally to oscillate the said bar in a horizontal plane about the axis of the main portion of the bar, and including a spring means connected to the clamp for normally urging the said clamp towards the partition and a solenoid switch connected to the clamp for selectively moving the clamp away from the partition to cause said oscillating movement of the bar.

17. An article-dispensing apparatus comprising a plurality of vertically aligned shelves, each shelf being mounted for movement, independently of the other shelves, between a horizontal article supporting position and a vertical nonsupporting position, so that any combination of the total number of shelves may be placed in the horizontal position and the other shelves placed in the vertical position, a cyclically operable control means for acting upon only those shelves which happen to be in a horizontal position, one at a time and in sequence, from the lowermost of said horizontal shelves to the uppermost of said horizontal shelves to move each said horizontal shelf to the said vertical position, said control means being constructed to advance, during each of its cycles of operation, to a position to act upon the next higher horizontal shelf irrespective of the combination of the total number of the shelves which are initially placed in the horizontal position.

18. An article-dispensing apparatus according to claim 17 wherein the control means comprises an elongated bar extending vertically alongside all shelves and a plurality of arms formed thereon, one for each shelf, the spacing of the arms from each other being such that the weight of the bar and all of the arms, at any instant, rests upon the lowermost horizontal shelf.

19. An article-dispensing apparatus according to claim 18 wherein the shelves include laterally movable latch pins for holding the shelves in the horizontal position, the arms of the lowermost bar resting on its latch pin and wherein the said cyclic operation of the control means comprises oscillating the bar about its axis to move the arm of the lowermost horizontal shelf to disengage its latch pin and thereby permit the shelf, together with its latch pin 0 move to the vertical position.

thereby permitting the arm associated with the next highest horizontal shelf '0 come to rest on its associated latch pin.

20. An article-dispensing apparatus'ac'cording to claim 19 wherein each shelf is horizontally movable along a support rod and wherein said latch pin is rigidly connected to the shelf, a spring means for urging the shelf towards the bar of the control means, whereby the control means acts against the side flange to move both the latch pin and the shelf, together, away from the bar of the control means to permit that shelf to move to its vertical position.

21. An article-dispensing apparatus according to claim 19 wherein the upper end of said bar is offset from the main portion thereof, and including a horizontally movable clamp engaging said offset portion to move the same horizontally to oscillate the said bar in a horizontal plane about the axis of the main portion of the bar, and including a spring means connected to the clamp for normally urging the said clamp towards the partition and a solenoid switch connected to the clamp for selectively moving the clamp away from the partition to cause said oscillating movement of the bar.

22. An article-dispensing apparatus comprising a plurality of vertically aligned shelves,.each mounted on a support rod for lateral movement therealong, and for swinging movement thereabout between a horizontal article supporting position and a vertical nonsupporting position, a control means on one side of the shelves including a plurality of actuating arms, one arm associated with each shelf, each arm being movable laterally against its respective shelf to cause movement of that shelf from the horizontal position to the vertical position, and a side deflector located at the sides and immediately above at least some of the shelves to cover the area in which the arm of the next lower shelf moves, so that articles falling down from the higher shelves will be prevented by the side deflector from hitting the said arm of the shelf immediately below each side deflector.

23. An article-dispensing apparatus according to claim 22 and further including a rear deflector located immediately above at least some of the shelves against the rear partition to cover the upper part of the next lowest shelf when that shelf is in the vertical position, so that articles falling down from a higher shelf will be prevented by the rear deflector from hitting the upper part of the shelf immediately below each deflector.

24. An article-dispensing apparatus comprising a plurality of vertically aligned shelves mounted on a frame having a rear partition, each shelf being mounted on a support rod for movement thereabout between a horizontal article supporting position and a vertical nonsupporting position, such that in the vertical position the shelves are generally flat against the rear partition, and a rear deflector located immediately above at least some of the shelves against the rear partition to cover the will be prevented by the rear deflector from hitting the upper part of the shelf immediately below each rear deflector. 

1. An article-dispensing apparatus comprising; a plurality of vertically aligned shelves, each shelf being mounted for movement between a horizontal supporting position and a vertical nonsupporting position, each shelf including a latch means for holding that shelf in the horizontal position; a control means having a plurality of operative positions including one operative position for each shelf whereat the control means operates the latch means of that shelf to cause that shelf to move from the horizontal position to the vertical position, said control means being movable from a first operative position whereat it operates the latch means of a first shelf, to a second operative position spaced vertically from the first operative position whereat it operates the latch means of a shelf higher than the first shelf, said movement of the control means being by gravity and in response to the operation of the latch means of the first shelf and to movement of the first shelf from its horizontal position to its vertical position.
 2. An article-dispensing apparatus according to claim 1 wherein each shelf includes a rest surface connected thereto for supporting the control means when the control means is in position to operate that shelf, said rest surface being movable with the shelf between the horizontal position and the vertical position, such that the rest surface is in position to support the control means only when the shelf is in a horizontal position, and said control means being cyclically operable whereby the said higher shelf which the control means operates on the next cycle after operating the first shelf is whichever one of said plurality of vertically aligned shelves above the said first shelf happens to be the next highest shelf in the horizontal position.
 3. A dispensing-apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said control means comprises an elongated bar having a main portion extending vertically alongside all shelves and including an actuating arm for each shelf, and each shelf including a rest level which is the locus of the said rest surface when that shelf is in the horizontal position, the said arms being spaced vertically from each other such that when the arm of the lowermost shelf is at its rest level, the arm of the second lowest shelf is spaced a distance H above its respective rest level, and all higher arms are spaced a distance (n-1) H above their respective reference levels wherein n is an integer representing the number of the shelf, counting up from the lowermost shelf, for which n
 1. 4. A dispensing-apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the latch means of each shelf is horizontally movable between an active position whereat it holds its shelf in a horizontal position and an inactive position whereat it permits its shelf to move to its vertical position, and including actuating means for moving the arms in a horizontal plane to cause said horizontal movement of its shelf.
 5. An article-dispensing apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said actuating means includes an electrically operated solenoid switch for oscillating the said bar about its axis to move the arms in said horizontal plane.
 6. An article-dispensing apparatus according to claim 4 including deflector means located between each shelf for preventing articles falling from a given shelf from hitting the arms associated with lower shelves and also for preventing the arms from engaging articles on their respective shelves during said horizontal movement of the arms.
 7. An article-dispensing apparatus according tO claim 6 including further deflector means located between each shelf for preventing articles falling from a given shelf from hitting lower shelves in a vertical position.
 8. An article-dispensing apparatus according to claim 4 including a vertical partition along the side of the shelves, wherein each shelf is laterally movable in a horizontal plane towards and away from said vertical bar, and wherein each latch means comprises a latch pin rigidly attached to its respective shelf and extending laterally from one side of its shelf towards the said partition, means in the partition for receiving the ends of the latch pins remote from the shelf for holding the shelf in a horizontal position, and spring means for urging the shelf towards the said partition.
 9. An article-dispensing apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the upper surface of the latch pin comprises the said rest surface and wherein the shelf includes a vertical side flange facing the bar, and wherein the arm in the operative position engages the side flange to move the shelf laterally and thereby move the latch pin away from its means in the partition, thereby permitting the shelf to fall to its vertical position. 10 An article-dispensing apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the upper end of said bar is offset from the main portion thereof, and including a horizontally movable clamp engaging said offset portion to move the same horizontally to oscillate the said bar in a horizontal plane about the axis of the main portion of the bar.
 11. An article-dispensing apparatus according to claim 10 including a spring means connected to the clamp for normally urging the said clamp towards the partition and a solenoid switch connected to the clamp for selectively moving the clamp away from the partition to cause said oscillating movement of the bar.
 12. An article-dispensing apparatus comprising: a plurality of vertically aligned shelves, each shelf movable between a horizontal article-supporting position and a vertical nonsupporting position, a control means including a vertically extending bar having formed thereon a plurality of actuating arms, one arm associated with each shelf, each said arm positioned to act upon its associated shelf to cause that shelf to move from the horizontal position to the vertical position, each shelf including a reference level at which its respective actuating arm acts to cause said movement of that shelf, wherein when the actuating arm associated with the lowermost shelf is located at the reference level of that shelf, the actuating arm associated with the next higher shelf is spaced a distance H above the reference level of that shelf, and all higher actuating arms are located a distance (n-1) H above their respective reference levels wherein n is an integer representing the number of the shelf, counting up, in sequence, starting from the said lowermost shelf for which n 1, wherein, when the shelves are in the horizontal position the said reference levels form rest surfaces for the said bar and arms of the control means, such that the weight of the bar and arms rests on whichever reference surface is at the moment receiving its respective arm.
 13. An article-dispensing apparatus according to claim 12 wherein each reference surface is formed on a latch pin attached to and protruding laterally from one side of its shelf, and including means for engaging each pin to hold the shelf in the horizontal position.
 14. An article-dispensing apparatus according to claim 13 including actuating means for oscillating the bar about its axis thereby moving the arms in a horizontal plane, such that the arm in the operative position disengages its latch means to permit that shelf to move to the vertical position, and such that the bar then moves downwardly until the next highest shelf in the horizontal position receives its respective arm to support the weight of the bar and arms.
 15. An article-dispensing apparatus according to claim 14 wHerein each shelf is movable laterally towards and away from the bar, and each latch pin is rigidly attached to its respective shelf, and including spring means urging each shelf towards the bar, and a side flange on each shelf facing the bar, whereby when the bar is oscillated, the arm engages the side flange and urges the shelf and the latch pin away from the bar to release the latch pin and permit said movement of the shelf to its vertical position.
 16. An article-dispensing apparatus according to claim 15 wherein the upper end of said bar is offset 15 the main portion thereof, and including a horizontally movable clamp engaging said offset portion to move the same horizontally to oscillate the said bar in a horizontal plane about the axis of the main portion of the bar, and including a spring means connected to the clamp for normally urging the said clamp towards the partition and a solenoid switch connected to the clamp for selectively moving the clamp away from the partition to cause said oscillating movement of the bar.
 17. An article-dispensing apparatus comprising a plurality of vertically aligned shelves, each shelf being mounted for movement, independently of the other shelves, between a horizontal article supporting position and a vertical nonsupporting position, so that any combination of the total number of shelves may be placed in the horizontal position and the other shelves placed in the vertical position, a cyclically operable control means for acting upon only those shelves which happen to be in a horizontal position, one at a time and in sequence, from the lowermost of said horizontal shelves to the uppermost of said horizontal shelves to move each said horizontal shelf to the said vertical position, said control means being constructed to advance, during each of its cycles of operation, to a position to act upon the next higher horizontal shelf irrespective of the combination of the total number of the shelves which are initially placed in the horizontal position.
 18. An article-dispensing apparatus according to claim 17 wherein the control means comprises an elongated bar extending vertically alongside all shelves and a plurality of arms formed thereon, one for each shelf, the spacing of the arms from each other being such that the weight of the bar and all of the arms, at any instant, rests upon the lowermost horizontal shelf.
 19. An article-dispensing apparatus according to claim 18 wherein the shelves include laterally movable latch pins for holding the shelves in the horizontal position, the arms of the lowermost bar resting on its latch pin and wherein the said cyclic operation of the control means comprises oscillating the bar about its axis to move the arm of the lowermost horizontal shelf to disengage its latch pin and thereby permit the shelf, together with its latch pin to move to the vertical position, thereby permitting the arm associated with the next highest horizontal shelf to come to rest on its associated latch pin.
 20. An article-dispensing apparatus according to claim 19 wherein each shelf is horizontally movable along a support rod and wherein said latch pin is rigidly connected to the shelf, a spring means for urging the shelf towards the bar of the control means, whereby the control means acts against the side flange to move both the latch pin and the shelf, together, away from the bar of the control means to permit that shelf to move to its vertical position.
 21. An article-dispensing apparatus according to claim 19 wherein the upper end of said bar is offset from the main portion thereof, and including a horizontally movable clamp engaging said offset portion to move the same horizontally to oscillate the said bar in a horizontal plane about the axis of the main portion of the bar, and including a spring means connected to the clamp for normally urging the said clamp towards the partition and a solenoid switch connected to the clamp for selectively moving the clamp away from the partition to cause said osCillating movement of the bar.
 22. An article-dispensing apparatus comprising a plurality of vertically aligned shelves, each mounted on a support rod for lateral movement therealong, and for swinging movement thereabout between a horizontal article supporting position and a vertical nonsupporting position, a control means on one side of the shelves including a plurality of actuating arms, one arm associated with each shelf, each arm being movable laterally against its respective shelf to cause movement of that shelf from the horizontal position to the vertical position, and a side deflector located at the sides and immediately above at least some of the shelves to cover the area in which the arm of the next lower shelf moves, so that articles falling down from the higher shelves will be prevented by the side deflector from hitting the said arm of the shelf immediately below each side deflector.
 23. An article-dispensing apparatus according to claim 22 and further including a rear deflector located immediately above at least some of the shelves against the rear partition to cover the upper part of the next lowest shelf when that shelf is in the vertical position, so that articles falling down from a higher shelf will be prevented by the rear deflector from hitting the upper part of the shelf immediately below each deflector.
 24. An article-dispensing apparatus comprising a plurality of vertically aligned shelves mounted on a frame having a rear partition, each shelf being mounted on a support rod for movement thereabout between a horizontal article supporting position and a vertical nonsupporting position, such that in the vertical position the shelves are generally flat against the rear partition, and a rear deflector located immediately above at least some of the shelves against the rear partition to cover the upper part of the next lower shelf when that shelf is in the vertical position, so that articles falling down from a higher shelf will be prevented by the rear deflector from hitting the upper part of the shelf immediately below each rear deflector. 